Without it, the Broncos could have ended the first quarter down 14-0. The Chiefs were close to scoring on their first drive before the interception and did so easily on their second.

Montee Ball’s lack of a fumble.

The Broncos have arrived at the point where a player not fumbling becomes an accolade, and Ball was a reliable backup on a night when Knowshon Moreno wasn’t quite the threat he’s been.

A reliable deep threat.

In the Broncos’ past three games, Manning virtually eliminated deep passes from his repertoire, and when he did throw downfield, he was often inaccurate. That changed Sunday: Eric Decker alone had a 41-yard TD catch and a 37-yarder.

WORSTS

Injuries, injuries, injuries.

Denver started the day without Kevin Vickerson, Rahim Moore and Derek Wolfe on defense, and when Champ Bailey was roughed up on the Chiefs’ first offensive series, it was another reminder how fragile a team can be.

Knile Davis.

Worst for the Broncos, that is. Davis broke free for a 20-yard run in the first quarter, then he had a 108-yard kick return TD in the second.

Returns.

Trindon Holliday is enough to make anyone watching nervous about turnovers, but it turns out, so are the Broncos’ other options. Between Wes Welker and Andre Caldwell, the team wasn’t able to do much in the return game, other than provide heart attack-inducing moments.